Cushioning mechanism



Sept. 15, 1936. GSWAN E A 2,054,566

CUSHIQNING MECHANISM Filed March l9, 1950 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 550a) F Jae/ azy iNVENTORS ATTORNEY p -15,1936. H. G. SWAN ET ALv 2,054 566 v CUSHIQNING MECHANISM Filed March 19, 19 30 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .15. 6'. Swan F Suckow INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHIONING MECHANISM Application March 19, 1930, Serial No. 437,136

10 Claims.

This invention relates to cushioning mechanism and, more particularly, to railway draft gears particularly adapted for application to rail- Way rolling stock.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is to provide a full length double end draft gear which is held in assembled relation without the use of auxiliary parts, and in which the mechanism is substantially enclosed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a cushioning mechanism having end housings which preferably interlock with intermediate friction elements and thereby substantially enclose the resilient means andother mechanism, the parts being adapted for economical manufacture and ready assembly.

A further object of our invention is the provision of cushioning mechanism involving interchangeable end housings which receive the release springs and interlock with the corresponding ends of intermediate friction elements between which are disposed resilient means for urging them into frictional engagement with the end housings.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of cushioning mechanism having intermediate friction elements urged apart by two sets of curved plate springs arranged with their convex sides toward said elements and separated by a plate formed with extensions interlocking with intermediate followers which are engaged by release springs whereby the parts are maintained in proper relation with respect to each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:--

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of one embodiment of our cushioning mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the gear previously shown with a portion thereof in section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the gear on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. 5

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing another embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. '1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of our in- 15 vention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a form of cushioning mechanism I particularly adapted for use as a railway draft gear and preferably formed full length and of such transverse dimensions that it is adapted to fit 20 in a draft gear pocket of normal size. It will be understood that the gear is adapted for use with any usual or desired form of rigging and is interchangeable with standard or usual forms of draft gears. 25

In the present embodiment, the cushioning mechanism or draft gear I comprises a pair of outer friction elements or end housings 2, which may be of similar construction whereby they are interchangeable, and intermediate friction elements 3, the ends of which are received in the housings 2, as illustrated. The intermediate friction elements 3 are preferably wedge shaped and provided with inclined friction surfaces 4 engaging correspondingly inclined friction surfaces 5 on the end housings 2. In order to provide friction surfaces on the end housings of the desired extent without permanently restricting the open ends of said housings, the walls 6 of the housings are preferably pocketed, as indicated 40 at l, to receive friction shoes 8, forming, in efiect, parts of the walls 6 and provided with inclined friction surfaces 9 forming continuations of the friction surfaces 5 on the housings when said shoes are in place. In order to provide for 45 holding the parts in proper assembled relation, the shoes 8 are preferably provided with tapered heel portions, at the lead lines from the reference character 8 in Fig. l, wedgingly disposed in corresponding receptacles in the adjacent 50 Walls of the housings, and shoulders l0 interlocking with corresponding shoulders II on the intermediate friction elements 3 whereby movement of the parts away from each other is limited, when assembled as illustrated.

In order to urge the intermediate friction elements 3 away from each other and into engagement with the frictional surfaces 5 and 9 of the end friction elements, curved plate springs I2 are desirably provided and arranged in two groups with the convex sides of the groups in engagement with the intermediate friction .elements 3 and the concave sides resting on a separator I3. The separator I3 is desirably H-shaped in plan or provided with extensions I4 lying on either side of the intermediate followers I5 which thereby re ceive the adjacent portions of said followers therebetween and interlock the parts in proper assembled relation or limit transverse movement therebetween. The ends of the followers I5 are also desirably guidingly received in notch-es I6 or interfit between the extensions I! on the intermediate friction elements 3 and extensions I8 on the friction shoes 8, which thereby also provide increased frictional area by extending the inclined friction surfaces I9 on the shoes 20 on the intermediate friction elements 3 on either side of the intermediate follower I5 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, is of. a width less than that of the intermediate friction elements 3 and the friction shoes 8.

In order to provide for release of the mechanism, nests of curved plate springs 2| are provided, the concave sides of which preferably rest on the transverse walls 22 of the end housings 2 and the convex sides of which engage the followers at the ends of. the intermediate friction elements 3. The end walls 23 of the housings may be spaced from the walls 22 to provide the desired length for the gear in the embodiment illustrated, although it will be understood that if the resilient means 2I is of a greater length, it may, if desired, rest directly on the end wall in each housing. In the present embodiment, the end wall 23 is joined by diagonal portions 24 to the walls 6 at approximately the place of union with the transverse wall 22.

In order to assemble the parts of the gear, it will be understood that the release springs 2I are inserted before the shoes 8 are placed in the pockets ll of the end housings. The intermediate followers I5 may then be applied between the shoes 8 after said shoes are positioned, the separator I3 and springs I2 positioned, as illustrated, between the intermediate friction elements 3, it being understood that the outer friction elements may be forced over the assembled springs I2 and intermediate friction elements 3 when the interlocking shoulders II] and II of the parts will snap into the position shown in Fig. 1 and hold the mechanism assembled without the necessity of auxiliary members or retaining bolts. If desired, some or all of the friction surfaces may be provided with lead inserts 25 to improve the smoothness of operation of, the gear.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a form of gear I is there shown which is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in that outer friction elements or housings 2 are provided with intermediate friction elements 3 disposed therebetween and urged apart by two nests of curved plate springs I2 with their convex sides engaging the intermediate friction elements and their concave sides resting on a separator I3 which, as in the previous embodiment, may be H-shaped in plan with extensions M interlocking with intermediate followers I5 In the present embodiment, however, the followers I5 are of. a normal width equal to the springs I2 and are notched,

as indicated at 26, to receive the extensions I4 on the separator I3 Instead of using plate release springs, as in the previous embodiment, we employ twin arranged helical release springs Ill and desirably form the housings 2 with their walls curved, as indicated at 6*, to partially surround and guide the release springs. The upper and lower ends of the followers I5 are correspondingly curved, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Because of the difference in the release springs, it is not necessary to have the walls of the housings pocketed to receive friction shoes and thereby prevent permanent restriction of the openings in the housings by the inclined friction surfaces 5 In the present embodiment, therefore, I form the entire friction surfaces of the housings integral on the walls thereof, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 4, the shoulders III on said walls thereby interlocking with the shoulders II on the intermediate friction elements 3*.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9, a form of gear I is there disclosed in which housings 2 are provided and, as in the previous embodiment, directly interlock with intermediate friction elements 3 Instead of having the curved plate springs I2 between the intermediate friction elements 3 disposed with their convex sides in engagement with said friction elements, we reverse the position of said springs so that their concave sides are toward the friction elements 3 and their convex sides in engagement with one another, thereby avoiding the necessity of the separator betweenthe nests of springs.

The release springs 2I in the present embodiment are concentrically arranged rather than twin arranged, as in the previous embodiment, and engage an intermediate follower I5 in each housing, as in the previous embodiment. The follower I5 is preferably notched or provided with a groove extending across one side, as indicated at 21, for receiving tongues 28 on the intermediate friction elements 3 which desirably extend to the friction surfaces, whereby the parts are interlocked in proper assembled relation and the ends of. the springs I2 prevented from slipping off the ends of the intermediate friction elements 3 From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised a novel form of double ended draft gear in which the parts may be made interchangeable and which is adapted for economical manufacture and ready assembly. If desired, the gear may be made standard or full length, whereby it is receivable in a draft gear pocket of. standard or usual size. The end friction elements or housings are interlocked with the ends of the wedges or intermediate friction elements without the newssity of auxiliary retaining means. Although we have disclosed certain preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that the same are merely illustrative and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Cushioning mechanism comprising outer friction elements with transverse walls and other walls providing inclined friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements with their ends received in the outer friction elements, means interlocking the adjacent portions of the elements to maintain assembly, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements, the convex sides of said springs being disposed outingly' sloping walls providing inclined friction surfaces cooperating with the inclined friction wardly toward said intermediate: friction ele-' ments, a separator disposed between said springs, followers engaging the ends of saidlnterme'diate friction elements, said separator having extensions receiving the'adjacent portions 'of 'said' followers therebetween for holding the parts in proper assembled relation, a'nd resilient means disposed outwardly of said followers and en'-' gaging the transverse walls of the outer-friction elements. a

2. Cushioning mechanism comprising outer friction elements provided with transverse walls and other walls extending therefrom and providing inclined friction surfaces; intermediate friction elements extending" longitudinally between the outer friction elements and with their ends received in said outer frictio-n'elements, the engaging portions of said elements being interlocked by cooperating shouldered portionsof the parts, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements and formed as two groups, the convex sides-of the groups being disposed outwardly in engagement with the intermediate friction elements, a separator disposed between said springs and having extensions at either end thereof, a follower disposed at each end of the intermediate friction elements, each follower being of less width than the friction elements and fitting between the extensions on the separator, whereby it is held in proper assembled relation, and resilient means disposed in said outer friction elements outwardly of the followers for effecting release of the mechanism.

3. Cushioning mechanism comprising end housings with transverse walls and other walls with inclined portions providing friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements disposed between said housings and formed with correspondingly inclined walls providing friction surfaces cooperating with the friction surfaces on the end housings, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements for urging them apart, said springs being divided into two groups with the convex side of each group in engagement with the adjacent intermediate friction element, a separator disposed between the groups of springs, a follower disposed at each end of the springs and associated intermediate friction elements, said followers and separator having embracing association for limiting relative transverse movement, and release springs disposed between said followers and the transverse walls of the housings.

4. Cushioning mechanism comprising outer friction elements with transverse walls and longitudinally extending walls providing inclined friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements with their ends received in the outer friction elements, two groups of curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements, the convex sides of said groups being disposed outwardly toward said intermediate friction elements, a separator H-shaped in plan disposed between said groups of springs, followers engaging the ends of said intermediate friction elements and with portions received between portions of said separator for limiting transverse movement therebetween, and release springs disposed in said outer friction elements outwardly of the followers.

5. Cushioning mechanism comprising end housings with transverse walls and longitudinal walls with sloping portions providing inclined friction surfaces, friction elements disposed between said end housings and having correspondsurfaces" on the end housings, those portions of thelongitudinal walls of the end housings adjacent the intermediate friction elements being formed with inwardly opening pockets, friction shoes seated in said pockets and providing friction surfaces extending the area of the friction surfaceson the end housings, and restricting the 'openingto said housings, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements, a follower adjacent each end of said springs and friction elements, and a group of curved plate springs disposed in each end housing with the'convex side thereof engaging the adjacent follower forieffecting release of the mechanism.

6. Cushioning mechanism comprising end housings with transverse walls and other walls providing inclined friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements disposed between said housings and having correspondingly inclined friction surfaces normally engaging the friction surfaces on the housings, two groups of curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate elements for urging them apart, a separator disposed between said groups of springs, a follower at each end of said plate springs, the separator, and the associated friction elements, said followers and separator having overlapping association for maintaining the desired transverse relationship, and twin arranged helical springs disposed between the followers and the transverse walls of the housings.

'7. Cushioning mechanism comprising end friction elements with inclined friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements extending longitudinally between the end friction elements and with their ends received in said end friction elements and provided with corresponding friction surfaces engaging the inclined friction surfaces on the end elements, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements and formed as two groups, the convex sides of the groups being disposed outwardly in engagement with the intermediate friction elements, separator means disposed between said groups, a follower disposed at each end of the intermediate friction elements, each follower and the adjacent ends of the separator means interfitting one with another, whereby they are held in proper assembled relation, and resilient means acting on said followers for efiecting release of the mechanism.

8. Cushioning mechanism comprising end elements formed with inclined friction surfaces, friction elements disposed between said end elements and having corresponding inclined friction surfaces cooperating with the friction surfaces on the end elements, those portions of the end elements adjacent the intermediate friction elements being formed with inwardly opening pockets, friction shoes seated in said pockets and providing friction surfaces extending the area of the friction surfaces on the end elements and restricting the openings to said end elements, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements, a follower adjacent the ends of said springs and friction elements, and resilient means acting on each follower for effecting release of the mechanism.

9. Cushioning mechanism comprising end housings with transverse walls and longitudinal walls, friction elements disposed between said end housings, those portions of the longitudinal walls of the end housings adjacent the intermediate friction elements being formed with inwardly opening pockets, friction shoes seated in said pockets and providing diagonally disposed friction surfaces, said shoes also restricting the openings to said housings, said intermediate friction elements having corresponding friction surfaces cooperating with those on said shoes, resilient means disposed between said intermediate friction elements, a follower at each end of said intermediate friction elements, said resilient means including a member having overlapping association with said followers for maintaining the desired transverse relationship, and a group of curved plate springs disposed in each end housing with the ends extending beyond the friction shoes when in place, engaging abutment portions on the housings, and the convex side of each group engaging the adjacent follower for effecting release of the mechanism;

10. Cushioning mechanism comprising end housings with transverse walls and other walls providing inclined friction surfaces, intermediate friction elements disposed between said housings and each formed with offset walls providing inclined friction surfaces with shoulders therebetween, those portions of the end housings adjacent the intermediate friction elements being provided with inwardly opening pockets, friction shoes seated in said pockets and each shoe formed with inclined frictionjsurfaces in two planes providing a shoulder therebetween and normally engaging the friction surfaces and shoulders on the intermediate friction elements, curved plate springs disposed between said intermediate friction elements for urging them apart, curved plate release springs, and intermediate followers disposed between the intermediate friction elements and said release springs, said friction shoes being notched to guidingly receive said intermediate followers, and, when removed, increasing the openings to the housings to permit the insertion and removal of said release springs.

HORACE G. SWAN. FREDERICK G. SUCKOW. 

